How to survive a Tsunami

https://youtu.be/7EDflnGzjTY
（Joanna 老师整理)

You're on a beach, not a worry in the world. The sun bronzing your skin. Sand trickling between your
toes. The sound of waves. Wait. What? Where did all the water go? Did you see it going out? Better
act quickly. In a matter of minutes, you may be underwater. Here's how to survive a tsunami.
According to sun, tsunamis are triggered by intense underwater activity, usually an earthquake or an
underwater volcanic eruption. These events displace huge volumes of water, pushing it up from the
ocean's floor to its surface. But when gravity pulls it back down, all this built up energy is released
outwards, forming deadly waves that grow stronger as they ripple across the ocean. A tsunami's
waves can be 100 km long and sometimes taller than 30 meters. They can travel across whole oceans,
moving at the speed of a jet airplane. So with such speed, strength and stamina, how does anyone
stand a chance? Even in a tsunami hazard zone, you can still survive if you know what to do. The first
step to survival is to be able to identify the early signs of a tsunami. The Pacific Ocean is home to
volatile tectonic activity, which explains why 75% of the world's volcanic eruptions and 90% of the
world's earthquakes occur in the Pacific. These geological disturbances are the reason why 85% of all
tsunamis happen in the Pacific Ocean. In most cases, an earthquake comes before a tsunami. So if
you're near the coast and you experience an earthquake, protect yourself from that first. But once the
shaking stops, move to higher ground as quickly as possible. The beach will grow bigger. Run the
other way. An early sign of an impending tsunami is that the water along the coast will recede. It pulls
back and exposes the sea floor. Do not go to the beach to investigate. You'll only be putting yourself
at risk for when the water surges back. Instead, head in the opposite direction. Try to get as far as
three and a half kilometers from the ocean, or 30 meters above sea level. To ensure your safety, get
to the highest elevation possible. Tsunamis travel quickly and you may not have enough time to clear
the hazard zone. In this case, look for a tall building with a sturdy concrete foundation. If you see one
nearby, run inside and get to the roof as quickly as possible. If you can't make it to a building in time,
your best bet is to grab onto something and hold on. Though that might not sound very practical, hold
the eye roll for a moment. In the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, an Indonesian woman was finally
rescued after holding on to a palm tree for five days straight. While it isn't ideal if you can't get to
higher ground in time, you need to find something to hold on to. As the tsunami moves inland, it will
sweep tons of debris along with it. This can be very dangerous, as the accumulation of debris traveling
at high speeds become fatal obstacles for anyone who's caught in the current. However, many
tsunami victims have been saved by climbing on to detached roofs or holding on tightly to floating
cars or other large objects. Of course, if you've made it this far, your troubles aren't over yet. A
tsunami isn't one wave, but a series of waves. Known as a tsunami Wavetrain, waves may be
anywhere from 5 minutes apart to an hour apart. And be aware that the first wave that hits isn't
always the strongest. So even when you think it's over, stay where you're safe until you hear from
local officials. It goes without saying tsunamis are terrifying. And when a 30 meters wave is hurtling
towards you at 800 km/hour, you're probably feeling pretty helpless. But have faith in science, trust
empirical research, and you'll see there's always a way out. We'll keep showing you one episode at a
time on According to Science.